A Smith County judge has sentenced a Tyler man to 50 years in prison for dragging a police officer with his vehicle during a traffic stop.

Court records show Judge Kerri Russell sentenced Ray Charles Hawkins, 50, on Monday. A jury found Hawkins guilty of first-degree aggravated assault against a public servant in April.

Hawkins was arrested on Sept. 8 after being pulled over by Tyler police. The officer performing the stop asked Hawkins to get out of the vehicle but he refused.

The officer opened the door to get Hawkins out of the vehicle but Hawkins put the vehicle in drive and hit the gas. The officer was dragged and knocked to the ground. He sustained minor physical injuries.

Officers followed Hawkins in a high-speed pursuit to a residence on North Spring Street in Tyler. A search of the vehicle uncovered narcotics and drug paraphernalia.